The Delphi Bureau: The Merchant of Death Assignment
The Delphi Bureau is a top-secret spy cadre answerable only to the U.S. president. The organization may have just one field operative, a supposed researcher named Glenn Garth Gregory. He gets his orders from an in-the-know Washington, D.C. socialite, and he relies on a resource that makes him a one-of-a-kind asset: his photographic memory. This adventure-packed, tongue-in-cheek pilot sets the pace and style for the 1972-73 series it launched. In it, Gregory sets out to find who's behind the disappearance of jets, tanks and other surplus weaponry. He'll be variously hunted by an assassin, tossed in jail for murder, half-buried inside a grain elevator and forced to cling to the undercarriage of a tractor while the driver tries to shred him under its tilling blades. One breathless escape after another invariably seems to land our hero in another jam.
Insights
Plot Summary
The Delphi Bureau is a secret government agency that uses an advanced computer to solve crimes and uncover conspiracies. In this assignment, agent Evan McCormack is tasked with investigating the potential sale of a deadly biological weapon. He must navigate a complex web of international intrigue and deception to prevent a catastrophic event.
Critical Reception
As a made-for-television movie that served as a pilot for a short-lived series, "The Merchant of Death Assignment" received modest attention. It was seen as a competent entry in the espionage genre, utilizing the popular 'secret agency with advanced tech' trope of the era. While not groundbreaking, it provided standard suspense and action for its time.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its intriguing premise and fast-paced plot.
- The performance of Laurence Luckinbill as agent McCormack was generally well-received.
- Some critics found the reliance on a computer to solve all problems a bit far-fetched, even for its time.
Google audience: Audience reception for this specific movie is difficult to gauge due to its nature as a TV pilot. However, the series it spawned garnered attention for its unique concept of a computer-driven detective agency.
Fun Fact
The Delphi Bureau television series, which this movie served as a pilot for, only lasted 8 episodes due to low ratings.
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